Nov 4 - Oirase Keiryu

After breakfast, we visited the Oirase Keiryu (奧入瀨溪流) for a relaxing morning walk. The Oirase Keiryu mountain stream flows from Lake Towada, located approximately in the center of Aomori, to Yakeyama. The stream’s overall length is approximately 14 kilometers. Its upper stream has a range of waterfalls, while the middle stream becomes rapids and then eventually turns a slow and clear lower stream. One attraction, the Choshi-otaki waterfall, is 20m wide with a 7-meter drop and is known as Japan’s own mini-Niagara. There is also a trekking course following the path of the mountain stream. We spent more than 2 hours just stroking along the stream, enjoying the beautiful scenery, and taking photos to capture the nature beauty.  

We had lunch at 便慶居酒屋.  After lunch, we have some free time to visit the Towada Shrine (十和田神社). It is situated by Lake Towada (十和田湖 Towada­ko) which holds it’s water in the crater of a dormant volcano; hidden in it’s own sanctuary is a Shinto shrine recognized as a holy place in Aomori Prefecture. Once you enter from the village and pass the Tori (gate of entrance) the path to Towada Jinja Shrine is called "Suginami", a shortened version of the word from the Edo period “Suginamiki”, which, when translated means "avenue of Cedars". The trees are tall, sturdy and magnificent!

Then we walked to the lake side of Towadako and witnessed more beautiful fall foliage around the lake. 

Then our tour bus driver took us to stop by a viewpoint area to overlook the Lake Towada from a different angle.  The only issue was the wind was too strong for us to stay for too long.

Then he took us to another attraction which was not on our itinerary namely Nanataki Falls (七滝) is a waterfall in the Hachimantai district of Kosaka. It is one of "Japan’s Top 100 Waterfalls", in a listing published by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment in 1990. The falls have a height of 60 meters, broken into a series of seven cascades.  With a beautiful Japanese maple next to it, it was the best Kodak moment for us.

After we get back to the hotel, some of us even ventured out to the lake side to see more fall foliage.